2 Books Published by New Village Press on AALBC — Book Cover Collage

Ten transformative local arts projects come alive in this comics-illustrated training manual for teens, teachers, youth leaders, artists, and activists. This energetic guidebook demonstrates the enormous power of art in grassroots social change and presents true stories of community-based arts programs across the country, plus techniques, discussion questions, and plentiful resources. Beginner’s Guide to Community-Based Arts is a top seller for New Village Press, and this revised second edition includes updated resources and guidelines, along with a new comic art introduction by award-winning cartoonist and illustrator Keith Knight.

Now, educational comics for teens! Authors of Beginner’s Guide to Community-Based Arts, Keith Knight and Mat Schwarzman, have developed the first in a series of non-fiction comic books. Crossroads Comics #1 features stories about community-activist artists Chris Edaakie and Rhodessa Jones.Chris Edaakie brings Native American dance alive at Zuni Pueblo, New Mexico, offering residents needed exercise that can prevent diabetes, while reinvigorating traditional culture. Rhodessa Jones engages female inmates of San Francisco County Jail in creating original dance and theater that helps them discover themselves and their talents.The comics are derived from the Beginner’s Guide to Community-Based Arts, and include introductory background for each story as well as profiles of the artists. They make inspiring tools for high school classrooms or informal study circles.